Radioactive pollution (also radioactive contamination) is the presence of radioactive substances in the environment. These substances are known as pollutants because they can cause damage to the environment. Animals, plants and humans can all fall ill due to radioactive pollution.
Alternative names for radioactive pollution include ‘radioactive contamination’ and ‘radiological contamination’. These terms all mean the same thing: radioactive matter polluting the environment.
It is also good to know precisely what radioactive substances are. A substance is radioactive when the nuclei of its atoms start to decay. When this happens, the atom becomes unstable and releases particles which form radiation.
Radiation can be made up of several different particles, including gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and a type of electron known as ‘conversion electrons’.
Radiation can be undetectable when it touches a person’s skin. However, it is very hazardous. With alpha radiation, a living thing will need to be within centimeters of the radiation source to be affected by the radiation. However, other forms of radiation can travel long distances and affect plants, animals and people for miles around
Resource:
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